In the early morning of the second day, Tang Shen entered the examination hall carrying his exam basket. He sat in front of his desk with a calm expression, as if no one had knocked on the door last night and he had not heard anything about the imperial coup more than twenty years ago. Tang Shen calmly opened the test paper. Jia Liangsheng was sitting in front of him, looking at him expectantly.

You c an fi nd t he la te st cha pte rs at ( th e bl mu se . c o m )

The sanyuan of tongshi examination was an honor to Tang Shen, and it was also a good literary reputation to Jia Liangsheng. It was his first time to be the county magistrate of Gusu City. If under his governance a candidate who received the sanyuan title appeared, it would be an auspicious event. So in order to prevent Tang Shen from going off topic, he specially made three simple questions for this academy examination.

Tang Shen, you won’t go wrong with this, right?

Tang Shen opened the paper, looked at the questions above, and was instantly startled.

The first question: “Is it not delightful to learn with constant perseverance and application.” (TN: from The Analects of Confucius)

Tang Shen was dazed for a while and subconsciously flipped to the second question.

The second question: “It is wise to hold what you know.” (TN: from The Analects of Confucius)

Tang Shen: “…”

Okay, there was no need to look at the third test poem. It was also definitely a frequently heard phrase and impossible to write off-topic answers to!

Tang Shen subtly raised his head and met Jia Liangsheng’s eyes.

Jia Liangsheng’s eyes were earnest: Write well and make no mistakes, you will be the an shou this year!

Tang Shen: “…”

The unspoken rules of ancient examination halls were really harmful! He clearly didn’t want to be the an shou, so why were there people rushing to give him the title? Ai, then he could only accept it reluctantly.

Tang Shen lowered his head and began to answer the question, but his grin secretly stretched to his ears.

Hehehehe…

Hehehehe!

At the end of the first exam session, Tang Shen handed in his paper, and Jia Liangsheng eagerly took his paper and read it. He carefully read the two eight-legged essays and one test poem, nodding frequently.

Tang Shen also breathed a sigh of relief. If there were no exceptions, he was probably the an shou in the academy exam this time as well.

“I am indeed a genius!” Tang Shen thought to himself.

When he returned home in the evening, Tang Shen did not hide his joy. He directly said to Yao San: “Invite Accountant Lin and his family, let’s celebrate.”

Yao San: “What is the little boss celebrating?”

Tang Shen laughed and said, “Congratulations on my passing the academy examination.”

Yao San never imagined that Tang Shen would be so sure that he could pass the academy examination in which he had just taken the first test session, and there were still four more. But he trusted Tang Shen very much and happily invited Accountant Lin’s family.

Accountant Lin had experience. He stroked his beard and said, “It seems that the little boss is very confident. He answered very well today.”

Tang Shen smiled and said nothing.

Aunt Yao cooked a table of delicious food, and everyone ate the food to celebrate. Yao San and Accountant Lin even had a few drinks. Accountant Lin drank too much and said that Tang Huang had memorized three more poems recently. The little girl was not shy at all and recited the poems on the spot with great pride.

As the sky got darker, Tang Shen left the crowd and quietly opened the door.

Liu Haozi was seen standing outside the door, and the two looked at each other.

Tang Shen asked: “Have you found out the information that Xu Yuzhi asked you to check?”

Liu Haozi said: “I fod a lot of information, but I don’t know which one he wants. But Xu daren didn’t say it was not good. He should have got what he wanted.”

“Tell me clearly what you and he said.”

Liu Haozi told Tang Shen the news he found out today.

“…That Daoist Hua is called a daoist priest, but he married three wives. He is also from a wealthy family on Tongde Lane. When he came back yesterday, he mentioned to his wife that he wanted to find a way to leave Shengjing and return to Guys City. Because his two senior brothers who were on duty in the palace on the night the meteor fell to the ground half a year ago did not come back from the palace that night.”

Tang Shen: “The night the meteor fell to the ground… eh, was it that night?”

Liu Haozi: “Is there anything else, little boss?”

“No. You can go back. Remember that what I asked you to do today, you must not say a word to anyone else.”

“Yes.”

After closing the door, Tang Shen thought about it but still felt it was not enough. He called Yao San: “Give Liu Haozi fifty taels of silver and have him leave Gusu City immediately and never come back from now on.”

Yao San guessed that it was related to what happened last night. He nodded in agreement and went out with the money.

Ten days later, the academy examination results were released.

Sun Yue and Tang Shen came to the entrance of the academy together, and most of the classmates from Ziyang Academy were also present.

It was still dark, and the stars were shining in the sky. Tang Shen was a little sleepy and yawned a few times, but Sun Yue stared at the academy gate with wide eyes.

Tang Shen: “How sure are you about passing the academy examination?”

Sun Yue: “I’m not sure at all, but what if I’m lucky? This time the questions were so simple that it’s hard to write anything stunning, but you won’t make any mistakes either. Look at the old xiucais in our academy. Although their literary talent is better than mine, but they may not be better than me when it comes to answering ‘Is it not delightful to learn with constant perseverance and application’. I can also write an essay on this topic!”

Tang Shen smiled, and said calmly: “I wish you the last place.”

Sun Yue wasn’t angry either: “It’s good to be in the last place, how good it is to place last! The last place is also on the list. If I get on the list, I will be a gongsheng. I can go to Jiangnan Academy to report, and I can take the provincial examination next year!”

“That’s all the ambition you have!”

Tang Shen scolded in amusement, but in his heart he also hoped that Sun Yue could pass the exam. Fatty Sun looked unreliable, but he was actually very serious about his studies. Every day, he carefully completed the homework assigned by his teacher and never slacked off. Among all the wealthy children in Ziyang Academy, he was the most diligent one, such that Tang Shen even felt ashamed–—after all, he still had to manage the business of Zhenbao Pavilion and Tang’s Logistics and did not put as much effort in his studies as he should.

There was actually no difference between the first place and the last place in the academy examination, both were gongsheng and could take the provincial examination. If Tang Shen hadn’t already taken two top spots, he wouldn’t be interested in the third one. The title of an shou was not valuable, there were three of them every year!

Finally, when yin shi (3-5am) arrived, two government workers and an academician official came to the front of the academy with the red list.

The red list slowly opened. Some people cried bitterly, while others were ecstatic. This frenetic dream-like scene had appeared in the land of China for thousands of years, year after year, without interruption. The imperial examination was really pedantic, and the eight-legged writing technique stifled students’ thinking and made them constrained by the Four Books and Five Classics. But was this not the greatest fairness that the ancients could achieve?!

No matter rich or poor, everyone took the exam in the same examination hall.

This was the best way to change one’s life. This was a broad road laid out in front of the people. Even the very old would never give up.

Soon, someone reported the good news to Tang Shen.

“Congratulations, Tang sanyuan!”

“Congratulations, Tang Shen!”

“Tang sanyuan, you have to treat us at Qianqiu Tower.”

Tang Shen smiled and cupped his hands: “Thank you all, my classmates, I will see you all at Qianqiu Tower tomorrow at noon.”

After a while, Tang Shen discovered that Fatty Sun was missing. He searched and found Sun Yue in the crowd.

“What, did you pass Sun Yue?”

Fatty Sun slowly turned around, and Tang Shen was shocked to find that the little fatty was actually crying. Sun Yue excitedly rushed forward and hugged Tang Shen. His beefy embrace almost crushed Tang Shen: “The last place, really the last place! Tang Shen, your words are a blessing, next time you must say that I can pass the juren exam, I will be satisfied with the last spot! Oh, right, you just said that you are going to treat us at Qianqiu Tower at noon tomorrow? No! Dear classmates, I, Sun Yue, will treat you all at Qianqiu Tower at noon tomorrow, I will pay!”

Tang Shen didn’t know whether to laugh or cry.

After the academy examination results were released, Tang Shen hung out with his classmates for a while. When he returned home, he unexpectedly saw someone.

Tang Shen was shocked and hurried over: “Why are you here, sir?”

This was the first time Liang Song came to his house.

Liang Song sat on a wooden chair in the center of the yard and said with a smile, “Is this your sister?”

Tang Shen glanced at Tang Huang: “Yes, her name is Tang Huang, she is ten years old this year.”

“Tang Huang, which ‘huang’ is it?”

The little girl immediately said: “The ‘huang’ for yellow.”

Tang Shen: “The ‘huang’ for jade. “Book of Changes: Da Zongbo” says, xuanhuang is used to pay homage to the north. Sir, it is this ‘huang’.”

Tang Huang looked at her brother in astonishment.

Liang Song saw the reaction of the siblings, nodded and said: “’Huang’, beautiful jade, it is a good name.”

Tang Huang stood dazed for a long time, and then she ran to the kitchen excitedly, yelling as she ran: “Aunt Yao, I have a name, Tang Huang, not ‘huang’ for yellow, but ‘huang’ for jade! Even Liang daru said it is a good name…”

Tang Shen covered his face. Wasn’t it just a name? Why couldn’t this girl be more reserved and maintain her dignity in front of sir?

Liang Song stood up and said, “Tang sanyuan?”

“Ah, sir, you already know.”

“En, I knew it one night before you did. Come, Tang sanyuan, let’s go out for a walk.”

“Yes.”

The two of them went out and walked through the neighborhood.

The house Tang Shen rented was next to a small river. Small rivers could be seen everywhere in Gusu City. The two of them walked along the river for a while.

Liang Song said: “Yu Zhi came to see you a few days ago?”

Tang Shen was silent then said, “Yes.”

You c an fi nd t he la te st cha pte rs at ( th e bl mu se . c o m )

AN: Little Tang Lang: What the hell, the Wang family hasn’t gone bankrupt yet?!

The young and old of the Wang family: Meow, meow, meow??? Madam, you…???

Next door•Still not showing up today•old Wang: My wife is a spendthrift, please excuse him everyone.

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It had been a year since he transmigrated, and this was the first time Tang Shen had left Gusu. At first he was quite interested and kept standing on the bow of the boat to look at the scenery on both sides of the river. But after looking at it for a long time, he became tired of it, so he went into the cabin instead. In the evening, everyone arrived at Jinling City. Tang Shen did not go to Jinxiu Pavilion with the shopkeeper of Zhenbao Pavilion. He and Accountant Lin went to walk the streets of Jinling City.

You c an fi nd t he la te st cha pte rs at ( th e bl mu se . c o m )

The thousand-year-old ancient capital, ten li of Qinhuai. The willows flutter lightly in the spring breeze, and the children of Jinling are full of pride. (TN: li, ancient measure of length, approx. 500 m)

The two strolled around several bustling markets in Jinling and came to Jiangnan Academy.

Accountant Lin: “This is the place where the little boss will take the juren exam in the future. If you pass…” His voice paused, “Hey, what am I saying? I really said the wrong thing, I must slap myself. The little boss will naturally pass the exam. After you become a juren, you will come to this academy to study. It’s okay if you don’t come, but at least you must be enrolled and registered.”

Jiangnan Academy was a special place. Except during imperial examinations, only the juren students there could step inside for classes.

Tang Shen took a look outside and felt that this place was not much different from Ziyang Academy.

The two of them went to visit Fuzi Temple and Wuyi Lane.

Tang Shen said with emotion: “By the Red Sparrow Bridge the wild flowers are spreading, At the very ends of the Black Robe Lane the sun is setting. Swallows used to nestle before the Wang and Xie’s manors. Now they are now flying in and out of the houses of commoners. So this is Wuyi Lane!” (TN: wuyi=black robe, poem “The Black Robe Lane” by Liu Yuxi (772-842))

Accountant Lin was startled: “What did the little boss say?”

Tang Shen: “Nothing, I don’t know where I heard the poem, just recited it casually.”

Accountant Lin: “Where did the little boss hear this poem? It can’t be recited. ‘Swallows used to nestle before the Wang and Xie’s manors. Now they are now flying in and out of the houses of commoners’. Putting aside the Xie family, they are indeed no longer at their height. But the Wang clan of Langya is a large aristocratic family, an extremely influential and wealthy clan! If someone hears you cursing the Wang and Xie families to decline behind their backs, there will be big trouble!”

“…Hah?”

Accountant Lin: “Little boss, please don’t recite it anymore.”

Tang Shen nodded repeatedly: “Okay, okay, I won’t recite it anymore.”

So it seems that in this world, the Wang and Xie families haven’t gone bankrupt yet!

The two of them only wandered around for two hours, and soon the moon hung in the air and the day fell into the night. Tang Shen wanted to find a place to rest first, but Accountant Lin hesitated for a while and said, “This place is very close to the Qinhuai River.”

Tang Shen was confused: “Huh?”

“Little boss… came to Jinling specifically this time to see the unique beauty of Jinling, the singsong girls on the Qinhuai River?”

Tang Shen was stunned for a long time before he realized what the singsong girls meant.

Was he so lustful?

Tang Shen coughed and reminded: “Accountant Lin, I am only fourteen this year.”

“I remember that when I was fourteen, I was already engaged to my wife who passed away long ago.”

“…”

This conversation is unable to be held any longer!

Tang Shen certainly didn’t want to go to the Qinhuai River. In fact, he came to Jinling to inspect the market. The living conditions of the people in Jinling City, and what kind of merchants were there in Jinling City were all the things he wanted to observe. At the same time, he also planned to go to Jinxiu Pavilion the next day. Jinling City was indeed wealthy, but if you want to sell essential oil and scented soap well, you couldn’t do it only with money.

Tang Shen planned to go to Jinxiu Pavilion and help Shopkeeper Fang design the store display for essential oil and scented soap, just like he did in Gusu City.

But having already come here…

Tang Shen said: “Want to go and take a look?”

“Let’s go.” Accountant Lin said with a look on his face that practically broadcast “I just knew you wanted to go”.

Tang Shen: “…”

Was it too late to change his mind now?!

Du Mu once wrote a seven-character quatrain: Mist envelops the cold water, and moonlight shrouds the sand. Not far from a tavern I moor my boat in the Qinhuai at night. Singsong girls, not knowing the bitterness of a conquered kingdom, sing gaily A Song of Courtyard Flowers on the river’s other side. (TN: A Song of Courtyard Flowers, a musical piece composed by the last emperor of the Chen Dynasty of the Southern Dynasties in Chinese history. It was later regarded as a tune presaging the fallen state)

In the Song Dynasty, the country was peaceful and the people were at peace. Naturally, what the singsong girls sang now was not the song of the country’s subjugation, but the song of prosperous times. On the Qinhuai River at night, rows of painted boats swayed gently with the water waves, with lights and shadows and the sound of oars. Tang Shen did not board any of the boats. He walked along the river bank and looked at this prosperous scene from a distance.

The sound of singsong girls’ pipa and qin mixed with the sound of the Qinhuai River.

Tang Shen suddenly said: “Mist envelops the cold water, and moonlight shrouds the sand! Yes, this is Jinling!”

Accountant Lin was confused.

The next day, Tang Shen went to Jinxiu Pavilion. Shopkeeper Fang had known that he was coming and greeted him outside the door. Tang Shen roughly described the store display design he envisioned. Shopkeeper Fang froze on the spot and repeated: “Mist envelops the cold water… moonlight shrouds the sand?”

“Yes.”

“Is this written by Tang gongzi?”

“No, I heard this from others.”

“This is a poem to last the ages! Tang gongzi, don’t worry, as you said, I will find someone to prepare the water and white sand to re-decorate my Jinxiu Pavilion according to your advice. Mist envelops the cold water, and moonlight shrouds the sand. Just this sentence, I dare to say that the essential oil will be a big seller in our Jinling City.”

Half a month later, soap, scented soap and essential oil were put on the market together in Jinling City.

This time, Jinxiu Pavilion did not deliberately hide the soap and did not sell it first like Zhenbao Pavilion did. Because Jinling City was close to Gusu City, people in Jinling have known about soap for a while now and even bought soap from Gusu City. Jinxiu Pavilion sold the three items together. At the same time, the Zheng family also asked someone from the Wang family of Langya to write an inscription for them and hang it in Jinxiu Pavilion.

“Mist envelops the cold water, and moonlight shrouds the sand.”

Signed, Wang Zifeng.

When Shopkeeper Fang got this inscription, he was shocked and said: “Boss, how did you get Wang xianggong to inscribe it!”

The owner of Jinxiu Pavilion, the current head of the Zheng family, Zheng Hao, also felt strange: “Originally, I only wanted to ask the second young master Wang to write an inscription. Considering the relationship between my Zheng family and their Wang family, it shouldn’t be troublesome. Coincidentally, the eldest young master Wang went home to visit family, and this poem somehow came to his ears. He praised it and wrote the inscription personally, and before returning to Shengjing gave it to the second young master.”

Shopkeeper Fang said: “How wonderful, how wonderful! Boss, although we don’t have the “Golden Mist” inscribed by Liang daru himself, we do have Wang xianggong‘s calligraphy. In Jinling, it is much more useful than Liang daru‘s!”

Not only was it useful in Jinling City, Shopkeeper Fang thought to himself: Even if this inscription was displayed in Shengjing, it would be an extremely golden sign!

Of course Tang Shen didn’t know about these things. He was only responsible for the store display. Who would have thought that Shopkeeper Fang was indeed a shrewd businessman. He even used the marketing method of asking an influential individual to write an inscription, and the results were even better than his.

After returning to Gusu City, with only more than a month left before the academy examination, Tang Shen began to study hard.

Later generations often talk about ones’ name appearing on the gold list. Most people also know about the zhuangyuan, bangyan, and tanhua, but they don’t know much about the low-level examinations such as the juren and the xiucai, and they don’t know the complexity of the tongshi. If you pass the county exam, you were a tongsheng; if you passed the prefectural exam, you were a xiucai.

But this did not mean that every xiucai had the opportunity to become a juren. After all, there were only so many rooms in Jiangnan Academy, and if everyone took the examination, how could it fit everyone. If a xiucai wants to take the examination to become a juren, other than using some special methods, most xiucai must pass the academy examination to get the opportunity to participate in the provincial examination and become a juren.

Tang Shen still wrote two eight-legged essays and one test poem every day. If Liang Song was in Gusu City, he would send it to his teacher for review every day; if Liang Song was not here, he would keep it until Liang Song came back.

Soon it was the day before the academy examination. Because he had to get up early the next day to go to the examination hall, Tang Shen rested at you shi (5-7pm). But at xu shi (7-9pm), someone suddenly knocked on the door. Yao San was awakened and opened the door where a travel-worn man stood outside. He was wearing a smock, which hid his face, and asked in a low voice: “Is this Tang Shen’s residence?”

Yao San said warily: “Exactly, who are you?”

Tang Shen was woken up, put on his clothes and walked out of the house.

The visitor said: “My name is Xu Hui, and I am Liang daren‘s nephew. Go tell Tang Shen, and he will know.”

“Yu Zhi?”

Xu Hui raised his head and saw Tang Shen.

Tang Shen: “Come in first, we can talk about it in the room.”

Xu Hui entered the room with a serious expression and refused to speak. Tang Shen understood what he meant: “Brother Yao, you can go to the yard. This is Xu Yuzhi, sir’s nephew. Sir must want to tell me something.”

Yao San nodded and left the room.

Tang Shen asked: “Did something happened to Mr. Liang?”

Xu Hui shook his head: “No. Daren is still in Jinling City. I’m afraid he won’t be back for a few days.”

“Then?”

Xu Hui hesitated for a moment and said: “Daren has not come back yet, but there is something that I can’t wait for. Tang Shen, I’m afraid you don’t know that daren has gone to Jinling City several times in the past six months to save an old friend. That old friend of daren‘s has been imprisoned in the imperial prison for twenty-five years. Half a year ago, daren received news that for some unknown reason someone seemed to want to plot against that person.”

Tang Shen thought to himself, wasn’t this person Zhong Wei, Zhong daru?

On the surface, he pretended not to know: “Who wants to harm sir’s friend?”

“I don’t know either. But early this morning, A person returned to Gusu City from Shengjing to attend the funeral for one of his relatives. He will only stay for two days. I don’t have time to inform daren, and I’m afraid daren also have no way to deal with the matter.” After a pause, Xu Hui said: “Tang Shen, I can tell you that this person has some relationship with the current emperor. Everyone knows that the current emperor is obsessed with cultivating immortality and only favors the demonic daoist Li Xiaoren. The news I investigated is that one of Li Xiaoren’s lay disciples had returned to Gusu City. If one wants to inquire about Shengjing and try to figure out the emperor’s thoughts, he is the best way.”

Tang Shen frowned and said, “You want me to help you investigate?”

Xu Hui sighed: “I am also desperate. Daren is too noble and upright. Even though he is the governor of Gusu Prefecture, his power and connections in Gusu probably does not even compare to your Tang family, so I can only come to you for help. I hope you can ask Tang juren to give it a try.”

Tang Shen pondered for a moment: “Are you in a hurry?”

“That person will leave tomorrow evening!”

“Okay, come with me.”

Tang Shen changed clothes and went out with Xu Hui. Xu Hui thought he was going to take him to the Tang Manor. Unexpectedly, Tang Shen and Yao San made a big turn, but instead of going to the Tang Manor, they came to a big courtyard house.

Yao San knocked on the door, and a muscular middle-aged man came out. When he saw them, he said, “Little boss, Brother Yao.”

Tang Shen: “Brother Liu, if I remember correctly, you are in charge of the logistics business in Tongde Lane, right?”

Liu Haozi said: “Yes. Is there something you want me to do, little boss?”

Tang’s Logistics business had already gone on the right track. Three months ago, Tang Shen specially selected some smarter employees and promoted them to supervisors to manage the logistics business of a neighborhood division. This Liu Haozi was one of them.

Tang Shen: “If you are asked to find out information about a family, is it possible? That family lives in Tongde Lane.”

“Three days later, I can tell the little boss what color underwear that person is wearing that day!”

“What if it’s only one day?”

Liu Haozi was stunned: “I can only do my best.”

“Okay, then you will listen to this gentleman tomorrow and do what he says.” Tang Shen introduced Xu Hui to Liu Haozi.

Liu Haozi nodded repeatedly.

Xu Hui looked at Tang Shen gratefully and cupped his hands.

Tang Shen and Yao San left.

You c an fi nd t he la te st cha pte rs at ( th e bl mu se . c o m )

Yes, from the very beginning, when Tang Shen decided to start a logistics business, it was to place informants in Gusu City. In his previous life, he read a book about a legendary family, the Rothschilds. In the 19th century, the Rothschild family relied on its powerful information network to learn the outcome of the Battle of Waterloo at the first moment. They took advantage of the time difference to make a fortune and became the world’s richest family.

Information was the most powerful tool for making money.

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A member of the Tang family becoming a xiucai an shou was not a trivial matter, and it also startled Tang juren.

Tang juren invited Tang Shen to a banquet at the Tang family’s manor, and held thirty banquet tables for him. The banquet lasted for three days and three nights, inviting neighbors from all over Gusu City to congratulate the new an shou. Tang Shen did not refuse. Although his relationship with the Tang family was not as close as one family, after all, both sides had business cooperation and were already seen as one.

You c an fi nd t he la te st cha pte rs at ( th e bl mu se . c o m )

After the first day of the banquet, the maid Haitang invited Tang Shen to come to the side courtyard of the Tang Manor. Madam Tang had been waiting for him for a long time.

After greetings, Madam Tang smiled and said: “I still remember the first time we met last year. At that time, I never thought that my nephew would have such amazing talent and get the top spot in the academy examination of Gusu City and Wu County!”

Tang Shen cupped his hands and said modestly: “Eldest Aunt is joking, it is but a xiucai an shou only.”

Madam Tang: “Don’t be modest. Your cousin is a few years older than you, but he failed to pass the exam this time. Ai, it also makes me worried. Well, I won’t talk about that rascal today and make you unhappy. Shen’er, the Shopkeeper Fang from Jinling’s Jinxiu Pavilion came to Gusu City a few days ago and wanted to place an order with our Zhenbao Pavilion.”

Tang Shen’s eyes lit up: “Soap?”

Madam Tang shook her head: “Soap, scented soap and essential oil, Shopkeeper Fang wants them all!”

Tang Shen: “Good!”

Madam Tang: “Good!”

The two looked at each other and laughed.

The soap had been out on the market for more than three months. As Tang Shen expected from the beginning, this was his trump card.

It had the function of scented soap and looked very similar to scented soap, but it was much cheaper than scented soap. It was not that there was no substitute for soap in ancient times. This kind of soap was made by grinding pig pancreas into pieces and adding sugar and plant ash. Because it used pig pancreas, it had a certain odor to it, and it was gray-black in color and sticky to the touch. When there was no soap, soap was a must-have tool for ordinary people in Gusu City to do laundry. But with soap, soap was more durable than soap, and it was also clean and more appealing in appearance. So naturally it had suddenly become the new favorite of Gusu people. As the saying goes, there might be no need for wine and tea at home, but there must be salt and soap at home!

Gusu City and Jinling City were adjacent. Tang Shen had already guessed that someone would discover their soap, but he didn’t expect it to be so soon.

Soap was easy to make and convenient. Tang Shen did not expect that they would also want scented soap and essential oil.

Madam Tang said: “I’m afraid you don’t know what Jinxiu Pavilion does. Jinxiu Pavilion is the largest makeup shop in Jinling City. The largest restaurant in Jinling City is called Jinxiu Tower. The largest embroidery shop is called Jinxiu House. The best winemaker is Jinxiu Winery. The Zheng family of Jinling Prefecture City is the owner of Jinxiu Pavilion, and they are also the leading wealthy family in Jiangnan.”

Tang Shen understood: “So that’s it.”

When an ordinary merchant came to Gusu City and saw the goods in Zhenbao Pavilion, he must want soap the most. Although scented soap and essential oil were also easy to sell, their market was always narrower than soap. If one was not a businessman, one would not dare to take over the soap and essential oil business. But Jinxiu Pavilion was backed by the Zheng family. The Zheng family was not only the richest family in Jinling but the richest in the entire Jiangnan!

Only the Zheng family had the guts to take over the scented soap and essential oil business, feeling they could sell it.

Madam Tang: “The only thing I am hesitant about now is, Shen’er, how should we cooperate with Jinxiu Pavilion. This business is half yours after all. Do you have any insights that you could share?”

Tang Shen: “Eldest Aunt should already have an idea.”

Madam Tang smiled: “I can’t hide it from you. Shen’er, our Tang family has some influence in Gusu City, but we are practically blind in Jinling. Jinling is the territory of the Zheng family. If we don’t cooperate with them, we will never be able to do business in Jinling, and even if we could, it will be difficult to make a profit. So I want to cooperate with them. But there are two ways to ship goods. The first is to go directly by the Grand Canal and ship our finished goods to Jinling. Second, we can directly find a workshop in Jinling to make the goods.”

Tang Shen said: “The second method is definitely a profitable business. If you invest money in the early stage, you can directly make profits later. The first method requires costs every time to transport goods, and the money consumed on the road is bound to be more than the second method.”

Madam Tang: “But…”

Tang Shen: “But the second option is to place our workshop in the distant Jinling. As Eldest Aunt said, Jinling is the territory of the Zheng family. No one knows what would happen if we place the workshop there. Which one does Eldest Aunt choose?”

“The first.”

“I also think the first method is better.”

Tang Shen had always known that there was a Grand Canal in the west of Gusu City. It was dug by the previous dynasty and began in Shengjing and ended in Qiantang. Most goods traveling between the north and south used this Grand Canal, but he had never seen this river personally.

After negotiating a deal with Jinxiu Pavilion, Tang Shen and Yao San went to the Grand Canal the next day.

On the vast river, thousands of sails were billowed and crowds of people flowed like waves. On the shore port, dozens of large ships were unloading and loading. The tea and silk in Gusu City were unparalleled in the world. Every day, tea and silk worth tens of thousands of gold leave this port by ship and sail to all directions of the Song Dynasty.

Yao San said: “My hometown is also adjacent to a tributary of the Grand Canal, but it is far smaller than the main stream in Gusu City. There are at most ten boats docked every day. I occasionally talk to the boatmen who dock and listen to them tell stories from far and wide.”

Tang Shen: “Brother Yao, you also know about shipping?”

Yao San said in shame: “Little boss is really flattering me. How could I understand this? I just heard from the boatmen that they have a rule when delivering goods, which was formulated by the Sha Gang, also known as the Sha Boat System. For example, in our Gusu City, the Tang family, Wang family and Sun family all have goods traveling to and from Shengjing. It is a long journey and they may encounter storms and pirates on the way. The three families would work together to build three ships. Each family would put one-third of the goods on each ship. In the end, regardless of whichever family’s ship arrived in Shengjing, the three families would share the profit equally. As for the goods lost in the shipwreck, the three families would also share the loss equally.”

Tang Shen exclaimed: “The ancients actually had such wisdom!”

Ten days later, Tang Shen and Madam Tang agreed to deliver the goods to Jinling. When he returned home, Aunt Yao was cooking.

“The little boss is back? What a coincidence, Accountant Lin came here an hour ago. Didn’t you say you had something to tell him this morning? He has been waiting for you for a long time.”

Tang Shen: “He’s here? Where is he?”

Aunt Yao came out of the kitchen and looked around: “Did he go to Ah Huang’s room?”

Tang Shen frowned.

Accountant Lin was a man after all. Why would he go to Ah Huang’s room? When Tang Shen walked to Tang Huang’s room, he found that the little girl had closed the door tightly in broad daylight. Tang Shen was unhappy. He didn’t knock on the door, but listened outside the window for a while. The voices inside were not clear, and he could only hear a few words such as “Don’t read it like this” and “Please write it again this way”.

Tang Shen felt strange, and he pushed the door open without knocking.

Tang Huang screamed and hid everything on the table behind her back. Accountant Lin was also shocked. He didn’t know whether to stand or sit. He silently walked to the door and said, “Little boss, I didn’t even hear when you came back.”

Tang Huang: “Brother! You didn’t knock on the door when you came in. Didn’t you tell me to be polite and knock on the door before entering the room?”

Tang Shen raised his eyebrows and said, “If I knock on the door, would I know what you two were doing behind my back without telling me? Tang Huang, take out what you are hiding behind your back.”

The little girl hid the thing behind her back, pursed her lips, face pale, took a few steps back, and pressed against the wall.

Tang Shen was confused, so he stepped forward and said, “Hand it over.”

“No!”

Tang Shen did not force her, but turned around and asked: “Accountant Lin, what are you doing in this room?”

Accountant Lin hesitated for a moment and said, “Ah Huang, just take it out and show it to the little boss.”

Her eyes red from holding back tears, Tang Huang was forced to take out the things hidden behind her back. Tang Shen took a closer look and found that it was actually a book called “Poems of a Thousand Families” and several pieces of rice paper. The ink on them was not dry yet, but some crooked words were written on them. Tang Shen understood with just one glance: “You asked Accountant Lin to teach you how to read and write in private?”

Accountant Lin: “Little boss, don’t blame the young lady Ah Huang. It’s just learning literacy. It’s all my fault.”

Tang Shen: “You are just teaching her to read and write, why do you have to hide and keep the door closed?”

Tang Huang and Accountant Lin were both stunned.

“Little boss?”

Tang Huang blinked, and a tear rolled down her cheek. She said hoarsely, “Brother, are you not angry about me studying?”

Tang Shen was confused: “Why should I be angry about you studying? But I am a little angry.” Tang Shen looked at the words on the rice paper and asked: “Accountant Lin, how long have you been teaching her to read and write in private?”

“More than three months.”

“More than three months? That means you started teaching before I took the county exam. Tang Huang, look at your calligraphy! Mr. Liang once said that the more handsome I look, the more unbearable my calligraphy is. Half a year ago, my calligraphy was worse than yours. But just six months later, my calligraphy has been praised by my teacher and I even got the top spot on the exam twice!”

Tang Huang was stunned for a long time and then realized: “Brother, are you praising yourself for your good looks?”

Tang Shen: “Did I say that?”

Tang Huang: “You did!”

“Oh, then I’m not wrong. Now look at your calligraphy. You’ve been practicing calligraphy for three months, and this is it?!”

Tang Huang was extremely aggrieved: “I don’t dare to practice calligraphy. I could only wait for you, Brother Yao and Aunt Yao to be away, and practice secretly by myself. It’s already pretty good now.”

Tang Shen: “There are so many excuses! Then I’ll give you another three months. I want to see how much better you can write.”

“Brother… you don’t object to me reading and writing?” The little girl sounded cautious, and her fearful look made Tang Shen suddenly feel distressed.

“Why should I object?”

“When dad was still alive, he always said that a woman’s lack of talent is a virtue. Mom and I were not allowed to touch anything related to reading and writing, and we were not allowed to enter his study…”

Tang Shen then remembered that Tang xiucai seemed to have said similar words, but he didn’t know that these words had such a great impact on Tang Huang.

Tang Shen reproached himself and said: “I was negligent. I would never object to anything you want to do. Of course, if you dare to do anything like murder and arson, I will definitely place righteousness before family. It’s just studying, why can’t you study? Accountant Lin, you are here today, and I wonder if you are willing to accept Tang Huang as a student and be her teacher.”

Tang Huang was overjoyed: “Brother!”

Accountant Lin smiled and said, “The little boss has opened his mouth, so of course I don’t dare to refuse.”

“My brother is indeed the best brother in the world!”

Tang Shen was praised by his sister for a whole day. Tang Huang wanted nothing more than to go out on the streets and say good things about her brother to everyone she sees. During dinner in the evening, Accountant Lin stayed to eat together with them. He said: “The little boss and Ah Huang are a bit alike.”

Yao San: “Indeed, they are siblings after all. Their eyes are somewhat similar.”

Tang Shen was stunned for a moment, but before he could speak, Tang Huang said, “My brother and I have different eyes. Mine are bigger than his.”

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Tang Shen: “Oh, you are quite bold. Even if you pop out your eyes, they are not as big as mine.”

There was a lot of laughter in the courtyard.

Three days later, Tang Shen and Accountant Lin boarded the Tang family’s cargo ship and headed for Jinling City.

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In this prefecture examination, three people from Ziyang Academy participated, and all three of them passed.

Sun Yue held no hope at all but when he saw his name at the last spot on the list, the little fatty was so excited that he clamored that it was his treat.

“Tomorrow at noon, Qianqiu Tower! All classmates are invited!”

Tang Shen gave him a thumbs up: “Rich!”

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Sun Yue said with a smile: “Tang an shou, what are you talking about? I have been very happy these past two days. I actually became a xiucai. I, Sun Yue, was actually able to become a xiucai at the age of fifteen. Sure enough, I am a genius.”

Tang Shen thought to himself that these words sounded familiar.

Tang Shen: “Are you going to invite all your classmates to eat at Qianqiu Tower tomorrow?”

“That’s right, you have to come too and build a good relationship with your classmates. Let me tell you, you are a thorn in the eyes of many people now. If you want to study comfortably in Ziyang Academy for the next two months, you must come tomorrow at noon.”

Tang Shen said in amusement: “Why am I a thorn in other people’s eyes? What have I done?”

Sun Yue’s eyes widened: “What did you do? Do you know that you are the an shou twice in a row? What does this mean?”

“What?”

“It means that in the academy examination in two months, you will most likely still be the an shou!”

“You have so much confidence in me?”

“Heh, what confidence do I have in you? The academy exam is not a county or prefecture exam. Half of the students in our Ziyang Academy will take part. Although you, Tang Shen, are talented, you have only been studying for a few years, so how could you compare with these old scholars. It’s just that you have already obtained the an shou twice. As long as you perform well and there are no outstanding candidates this time, Magistrate Jia will definitely give you the position of an shou and achieve your three in a row top spot in the tongshi.”

“It can be like this?” Tang Shen didn’t know that there were such unspoken rules in the ancient imperial examination.

Sun Yue said with emotion: “I am satisfied. I am a xiucai now, and my mother will not bother me in five years. I am not sure about the academy examination, and I am just going to give it a try. Unlike you, you have to work hard. Tang sanyuan!” (TN: candidate who gets the top spot three times in a row)

Tang Shen actually had no interest in the title of an shou, and he did not have obsessive-compulsive collecting disorder. He was not expecting to get the top spot twice. Tang Shen actually didn’t attach much importance to the last of the three tongshi examinations, the academy examination. Even if he took the top spot again this time, he would still have to sit in the exam booth out in the great examination hall and take the exam with all the candidates the next time he took the xiangshi.

There were no extra rewards, so why bother trying to pass the exam as high as you can, the most important thing was as long as you could pass it!

On the second day, Tang Shen came to Qianqiu Tower. Sun Yue said that he would invite all the classmates to eat, but not everyone came.

Students from poor families account for the majority in Ziyang Academy, and those from rich families were half their numbers. This time, several young masters from wealthy families who played well with Sun Yue came to support him. The students from poor families who came only filled two tables and sat separately from them without much interaction.

After they had had enough wine and food, these scholars from the government school were no different from ordinary people and began to make bluffs.

A scholar from a wealthy family said: “Tang Shen, you are the an shou twice in a row now. Congratulations! Gusu Prefecture is not one of those remote places. We have a strong reputation for academics and many scholars of poor families have become the zhuangyuan. In our Ziyang Academy, it has been three years in a row in which the an shou of the tongshi comes from poor families. You have to get back our dignity in the academy exam in two months.”

Tang Shen smiled and said: “Although it is not decided by me, all of us here, classmates, will give our best in the academy examination. At that time, I can only say, do the best I can and listen to fate.”

“What a good saying to do your best and obey fate!” said the young master of the Wang family in the east of the city, “Tang Shen, I heard that you are a student of Liang Bowen, Liang daren?”

This matter spread throughout Gusu City at some point. Tang Shen felt that he did not spread it intentionally, so he wondered why did everyone know about it.

If Liang Song knew of his confusion, he would definitely kick this scoundrel out of his study.

But thinking about it. Every time he did marketing and promotion, Tang Shen never failed to use Liang Song’s name. He must squeeze a pot of oil out of Liang Song everytime. It was already like this, even a blind person could see that Tang Shen and Liang Song had an unusual relationship!

Tang Shen: “Yes, I am his student.”

Wang xiucai raised his cupped hands and said, “I am so envious of you!”

Someone said: “I heard from my cousin who works in the government office that Liang daren has been away from Gusu City in recent months and often goes to Jinling to do business. I wonder what he is doing. Is there something that would make Liang daren leave our Gusu City?”

For anyone else it was a great joy to become the governor of Gusu Prefecture. But with Liang Song’s literary reputation and status, he could become a powerful official in the capital, Shengjing, and coming to Gusu Prefecture was instead a sense of demotion.

Tang Shen didn’t want to reveal his teacher’s thoughts. Of course, he didn’t talk with Liang Song about these things either. He remained silent and ate his food with his head down.

Wang xiucai said: “Ai, don’t make wild guesses. Gusu City is the hometown of Liang daren. How could Liang daren leave so casually? I also heard from my family that Liang daren went to Jinling not for other reasons but for the great scholar Mr. Zhong who had been in prison for twenty-five years!”

The customs of the Song Dynasty were open and generous to scholars. Taizu once made a special law: Do not kill scholars! (TN: founding emperor of a dynasty)

When Wang xiucai talked about current affairs in the country, no one stopped him, in fact everyone participated in it.

“Mr. Zhong has been in prison for twenty-five years. I was only five years old at that time, and now I have passed thirty. Time has really flown.”

“Twenty-five years of ups and downs, yet Mr. Liang has never forgotten his friend. He attaches great importance to love and righteousness. He is indeed a role model for scholars of our generation.”

After Tang Shen traveled to this era, the people he came into contact with were not only Tang Huang and Yao San, but also Madam Tang and Liang Song. Liang Song never talked about political affairs with him. When the teacher and student got together, he was like an ordinary teacher, teaching Tang Shen knowledge. Anything else he would not say to Tang Shen.

Tang Shen ate the food in silence while listening to these scholars talk. It was a pity that these scholars, even though they were from wealthy families, did not know much. After a few words, they started talking about the academy examination in two months.

Back home, Tang Shen came to Accountant Lin and asked, “Mr. Liang has been going to Jinling City to do work recently. As his student, I didn’t even know about it. I have really neglected my responsibility. Accountant Lin, have you ever heard of this person?”

“Who?”

“Mr. Zhong, the great scholar.”

Accountant Lin’s eyes dilated sharply, and he said: “Little boss, be careful what you say!”

Tang Shen noticed something was wrong: “Who is this Mr. Zhong?”

Accountant Lin sighed: “Actually, it doesn’t matter. The Song Dynasty never restrict the words of scholars. Mr. Zhong’s full name is Zhong Wei, and his courtesy name isa Tai Sheng. When the late emperor was alive, he was the left minister of the political affairs hall, and he was known as Zhong xianggong.” (TN: old form of access for prime ministers, can be translated as lord, similar to daren but daren is used for all officials)

Tang Shen was shocked.

The official system of the Song Dynasty followed the previous dynasty and was divided into three departments and six ministries. Among them, the Central Secretariat, also known as the Palace Secretariat, was one of the three departments and made up of the emperor’s trusted. In the Song Dynasty, the left was the most noble, and the left prime minister of the Central Secretariat was worthy of being known as being inferior to one person and superior to ten thousand people.

Accountant Lin: “When Zhong xianggong was in power, he pacified the northlands and conquered the southern barbarians. He is a hero of our Song Dynasty. It’s a pity that there was a coup in the palace twenty-five years ago. Zhong xianggong in a muddle-headed moment broke into the palace with the crown prince, intending to force a coup. The crown prince was shot to death by an arrow from the current emperor outside the palace gate, and Zhong xianggong was captured alive and has been imprisoned until now.”

Tang Shen immediately said: “Then what does this have to do with Mr. Liang?”

“Little boss should know that Liang daren is one of the four great Confucian scholars in the world, but I’m afraid you don’t know who the other three are. The other three are Zhong xianggong, Fu xianggong and Chen xianggong. Among them, Zhong xianggong can be said to be the head of the four great scholars! Alas, among the four, I don’t know much about Chen xianggong. But everyone knows that Liang daren, your teacher, has been a close friend with Zhong xianggong for many years. If it is true as the little boss said, Liang daren often goes to Jinling City for Zhong xianggong, then I am afraid that Liang daren’s efforts will be in vain.”

Tang Shen thought for a long time and asked, “Why did the crown prince want to force a coup?”

Accountant Lin was shocked and said: “Little boss, although the Song Dynasty is generous to scholars and does not kill them, and they are allowed to discuss government affairs. But after all, this is the emperor’s family matter, so you’d better not discuss it outside.”

Tang Shen smiled and said, “As you know, I just care about my teacher. And we are talking in private after all.”

“That’s fine too.”

Tang Shen: “Since the crown prince is already the heir, it makes no sense for him to force a coup. Or could it be that the late emperor’s life span is very long?”

Accountant Lin: “The late emperor was fifty-six years old when he passed away.”

Tang Shen frowned: “It’s not very long, not very short either.” It didn’t reach the point of forcing a coup, did it?

Accountant Lin: “Little boss, I am just an ordinary scholar. I only know a few things from listening to people discussing in teahouses. If you really want to know, why don’t you ask Liang daren?”

Tang Shen said: “My teacher has been very preoccupied in recent days. Since I got the top spot in the county examination, we have only met twice. I don’t want to bother him with this kind of thing.”

After Accountant Lin left, Tang Shen took a piece of rice paper and sketched on it.

According to Accountant Lin, the late emperor was fifty-six years old when he died. No matter how you calculate it, the crown prince would have been in his early forties at most. He was already the crown prince, and unless the late emperor showed signs of deposing the crown prince, he would not take the risk of forcing a coup.

Unless the forced coup was fake and there was something else hidden behind it.

Tang Shen didn’t know the truth of what happened back then, but he believed Mr. Liang. Since Mr. Liang was willing to go to Jinling Citu many times for Zhong xianggong, his choice was to believe Zhong xianggong, and Tang Shen also chose to believe that Zhong xianggong had not forced a coup.

You c an fi nd t he la te st cha pte rs at ( th e bl mu se . c o m )

However, no matter what the secret behind it was, there was a saying in the modern world. If you want to know the truth about anything, you only need to look at the person who benefits from it. After the coup incident, the crown prince died, and the current emperor ascended the throne, he was the biggest beneficiary. Zhong xianggong was thrown into a prison and Mr. Liang wanting to save him was tantamount to going against the current emperor Zhao Fu.

How could Zhao Fu accept this?

Mr. Liang could not succeed.

Tang Shen sighed. Legitimacy belongs to the victor; might makes right. He just hoped that Mr. Liang would see through this soon and not fall into the danger.

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After a long time, Tang Shen lowered his head and said, “This student realizes my mistake.” His voice was muffled, and there was still a trace of dissatisfaction deep in his heart.

“You think this is taken out of context. You clearly don’t mean that way, and the content of your essay is not about that.”

Tang Shen said nothing.

You c an fi nd t he la te st cha pte rs at ( th e bl mu se . c o m )

Liang Song looked at Tang Shen and shook his head helplessly. He stepped forward and pulled him, his student, over. Tang Shen raised his head and saw Liang Song looking at him quietly. As people age, their eyes become cloudy. Tang Shen knew that this was due to the accumulation of time. The old man’s eyes were never as bright as the young man’s. This was the case for everyone.

However, at this moment, looking at Liang Song’s cloudy and aged eyes, Tang Shen felt that perhaps some things might be more than just a physical change. These eyes were full of aged and weathered, hiding something that was subtle and silent. He couldn’t understand it at this time, but he knew that every word the elder in front of him said was for his own good.

Liang Song stared at his last and only student in this life and said: “People’s hearts are unpredictable. When you are at the height of power, even if you walked through the city with a knife and acted domineering, it is not a problem. But when you are downtrodden, everything you said and did, will be used as evidence when you are convicted. You have to remember, you can’t trust anyone. The boundary between a gentleman and a villain is just a thought. But before that, Tang Shen, you must be clear-minded and not leave behind any weakness for others to grasp.”

“I know that even if Jia Liangsheng is not the examiner, you should still be able to take the top spot. This essay you wrote is indeed stunning. It is the best essay you have written in these months. However, if someone wants to slander you in the future, just this sentence ‘I don’t believe it’ will be your fatal blow. They could take it out of context and deceive the emperor. This is officialdom.”

“I know, you were never fond of the imperial examination.”

Tang Shen was stunned for a moment and defended: “Sir, that’s not it.”

Liang Song: “We are the only ones in this study, so what can’t you say? Not to mention you, there are so many scholars in the world who don’t like imperial examination, so how do you matter?”

Tang Shen said no more.

The imperial examination and the eight-legged essay were criticized in later generations as feudal dross with no merit whatsoever. Tang Shen really didn’t like it. Putting him aside, how many future generations would like and approve of the imperial examination? But since he traveled through time, he had no choice but to take the exam.

Liang Song said: “However, the imperial examination is the only way for scholars in the world to change their situation. I don’t ask you to score the top spot and become a zhuangyuan. I had one top student who became a zhuangyuan. He died on the wall of Zhuozhou City in the 19th year. He was shot through the heart by random arrows from the Liao people and died. Shen’er, you are talented and intelligent, but you don’t have a world embracing aspiration. This is not a bad thing. But the imperial examination is also officialdom. As long as you participate in the imperial examination and get involved in officialdom, I must require you to be moderate. Even if you cannot win first place, protecting your life and surviving in this world is the most important thing.”

Tang Shen understood what Liang Song meant. After all, Tang Shen was not an ancient person, and he had traveled through time less than a year ago. When he wrote the “I don’t believe it” eight-legged essay, at most he thought that the examiner might feel that what he wrote was wrong and would not agree with his point of view, which was what later generations called off-topic writing. He didn’t expect that someone could use it to hinder him and slander him.

Officialdom was like a battlefield, perhaps even more cold-blooded and ruthless than the battlefield.

Tang Shen: “This student understands, I will definitely think twice before writing or speaking in the future.”

Liang Song: “I suppressed this essay of yours. Are you sure about the prefecture examination in two months?”

Tang Shen: “…Yes?”

“En?”

“Yes!”

Liang Song smiled.

In the study room, the teacher and student carefully read Tang Shen’s test paper again, and Liang Song pointed out several areas that could be improved. After dark, Tang Shen had dinner at Liang Manor. When he returned home, he bumped into someone before leaving the gate of Liang Manor.

When the two saw each other, they were both stunned.

Tang Shen cupped his hands and said, “Cousin Xu, long time no see.”

This person was none other than Xu Hui, Xu Yuzhi.

The first time Tang Shen met Xu Hui met was at a tea shop outside Zhao Family Village, and the second time they met was at Zeng fuzi‘s home. There was some unpleasantness that time. Now more than half a year had passed, Xu Hui looked at Tang Shen steadily, and bowed: “Long time no see, congratulations to the new an shou.”

“Cousin Xu is joking.”

“You are daren‘s student, just call me Yu Zhi.”

“Yu Zhi.”

After a back and forth exchange, the relationship between the two eased. Tang Shen asked: “You seem to be in a hurry, I haven’t seen you in the past few days either, are you very busy?”

Xu Hui nodded and said: “I just came back from Jinling and dealt with some affairs for daren.” After saying that, he thought for a while and took out a rabbit brush from his sleeve: “I got this from Wuxin Stationary in Jinling City when I happened to pass by a few days ago, congratulations on your success.”

Tang Shen accepted it: “Thank you so much, Yu Zhi.”

The two said goodbye.

When Tang Shen returned home, Aunt Yao cooked a table of delicious food and invited Lin Accountant and his family over as well to celebrate happily.

Tang Huang and Yao San were overjoyed, as if they were the an shou themselves.

After Tang Shen was advised by Liang Song, he was no longer so excited. He said: “It’s just a county exam an shou. Your brother hasn’t even become a xiucai yet. Once I do, it won’t be too late for you to be happy then.”

Tang Huang: “No way, my brother is the most amazing anyway. Brother Yao, you were not here this afternoon and didn’t see when that Tang Yun came to apologize, his face looked like he had just eaten a big lump of poop! He seemed a little dazed when he left, and seemed to not understand how my brother got the top spot in the examination, it was so funny.”

Yao San: “It’s not surprising that the little boss passed the examination on the first try. I think it’s not a big deal for the little boss to pass the exam and become a juren!”

Tang Shen thought to himself: Although I feel the same way, we should still be low-key, low-key.

He coughed: “Eat, eat.”

After all, Ziyang Academy was a government school in Gusu City. Of the four students who took the county exam this time, only one failed. Fatty Sun also passed the county exam, but he was not calm and still panicked. As soon as he arrived at the academy in the morning, he pulled Tang Shen and said, “Tang Shen, you are Liang daren‘s student. Did Liang daren tell you any exam secrets? We are good buddies, if you have something good, don’t forget me.”

Tang Shen laughed and scolded: “If I have any good thing, why would I still study? Why don’t I just sleep at home every day and go to the examination hall to use the exam secrets during the exam?”

Sun Yue suddenly wilted: “There are still two months until the prefecture exam. What would I do if I fail to pass the exam?”

Tang Shen waved his hand: “I’ll tell you a way.”

Sun Yue’s eyes lit up and he immediately perked his ears.

“If you don’t pass the exam, take off your clothes, find some brambles and carry it on your back to find your mother. In ancient times, Lian Po bore the bramble to plead guilty, and today Sun Yue pleads with his mother Madam Sun to be soft-hearted on him.”

“…”

“Tang Shen, are you looking for a fight!”

“Ha ha ha ha.”

After half a day, the two reconciled as before and went to the entrance of the academy to eat big meat buns together.

Two months passed quickly, and in April, many candidates who had passed the county exam took the prefecture exam. Not only those who passed the county exam this year took part in the exam, but also all those who had passed the county exam but failed the prefecture exam in previous years. Among them, Tang Shen saw Tang Yun. The two looked at each other from a distance, and Tang Yun depressedly raised his cupped hands to Tang Shen.

After entering the examination hall, under the envious eyes of Fatty Sun and Tang Yun, Tang Shen and nine other people entered a room and took the exam indoors.

Tang Shen held the test paper, feeling very energized, and took a deep breath.

Ah, the air was so good.

Now this was the proper way to take an exam. Next time he must also be in the top ten!

Opening the test paper, it was still the same two eight-legged essays and one test poem structure.

The first question was “A gentleman appreciates the virtuous and loves his family”, which comes from the third chapter of “The Great Learning”. The original sentence was “The superior man treats the worthy as worthy and loves his family. The inferior man enjoys his enjoyment and grabs profit whenever he has a chance. It is in this way that they are not forgotten after their death.” It means that a virtuous monarch had high moral character and cared for his people and relatives. When future generations of monarchs feel the benevolence of the late emperor, they would follow suit and carry forward the benevolence of the late emperor. Then the people could also receive blessings, be happier, and gain benefits.

This sentence referred to a phenomenon in which subordinates followed the example of their superiors, thus the country was peaceful and the people were happy.

Liang Song asked Tang Shen to be cautious in his words and deeds, not to curb his rich imagination or restrict his visual thinking, but to ask him to think twice before acting. Tang Shen thought about it for a while, with countless ideas flashing through his mind, and finally wrote: “With the respect of the forefathers, and the eternal happiness of the future generations, a gentleman would be virtuous and close to the nine-story pagoda.” He broke the topic, and then eloquently wrote the rest of the essay parts.

The second question was a little more difficult. It was an intersecting question, and the title was “As for governing the country, it will be advantageous to be a guest of the king”. The first half comes from “Mencius·King Hui of Liang”, and the second half comes from “Book of Changes·Guan”. Tang Shen thought for a long time and began to write.

After writing two eight-legged essays and a test poem, Tang Shen looked at the other nine people in the room. He took a deep breath and let it out happily.

So refreshing!

After checking the test paper and mistakes, Tang Shen handed in the paper and waited for ten people to gather together and leave the examination hall.

When Tang Huang and Yao San saw him coming out, they immediately ran forward. The little girl said cautiously: “Brother, are you okay?”

Tang Shen raised his eyebrows and said, “Of course your brother is okay. Your brother also wants to get into the top ten!”

Tang Huang beamed with joy.

Tang Shen felt that his performance this time was pretty good, not much different from last time. This time, ten people took the exam indoors. Although the exam lasted a whole day, they were not attacked by biochemical weapons. Tang Shen felt refreshed, had a full meal and went to bed, preparing for the second session tomorrow. Of course he didn’t know that in the Wu County government office, Jia Liangsheng had just finished overseeing the prefecture examination and picked his out of the many candidates’ papers.

“With the respect of the forefathers, and the eternal happiness of the future generations, a gentleman would be virtuous and close to the nine-story pagoda…”

Jia Liangsheng and the academician officials gathered around to read Tang Shen’s exam paper. After reading the two eight-legged essays and a test poem, Jia Liangsheng said: “Using quotations from classics and putting forth unique thoughts, the essay seems to be conciliatory, but it gradually has its roots. It is excellent work. The test poem is not bad either, this Tang Shen wrote an eight-legged poem without any flaws today, but the literary quality of it is not as good as his county examination work.”

An academician official said: “Excellent indeed, but not as unexpected as during the county exam.”

Jia Liangsheng nodded in agreement.

After the marking was over, everyone put together the best test papers. Jia Liangsheng commented: “This time, one first rank essay for Tang Shen of Gusu City and one for Yang Zhifan of Wu County. And as for the test poem Liu Yong of Wu County wrote the best poem, and he deserves the first rank. As for the an shou…”

The first session was also the most important in the prefecture examination. The next four sessions were just extras. Basically, the first day determined the exam results.

Jia Liangsheng looked at the three examination papers, thought for a long time, and said: “These three people have their own merits and it is difficult to distinguish them. However, if Tang Shen wins three top spots in a row for the tongshi this year, it would be this year’s sensation.”

With a stroke of his pen, Jia Liangsheng wrote the words “Tang Shen of Gusu City”.

At this time, Tang Shen didn’t know that he had just taken the first test session and had already won the title of this year’s an shou.

Tang Shen took the exam for four days, and the results were released after seven days. He originally just wanted to be in the top ten, but unexpectedly he saw that he was the an shou again.

This was not the an shou of the county examination. Once you passed the prefecture examination, you would gain the scholar rank of xiucai. This was a xiucai’s an shou!

Tang Shen stared blankly at his name while Tang Huang pulled at him excitedly. Tang Shen asked, “Am I really a genius? What I was best at before was obviously math, physics, and chemistry, while language and literature always pulled me down. Now I can score the top spot after a year of study?” He automatically ignored his golden finger of photographic memory.

Yao San and Tang Huang didn’t understand what mathematics, physics and chemistry referred to. In their minds…

“My brother is indeed the best!”

“The little boss really got the title of an shou!”

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Tang Shen even began to suspect whether he was an all-around genius in arts and sciences hidden in the secular world.

“Ai, Heaven has made us talents; we’re not made in vain. A thousand gold coins spent, more will turn up again! I am already a talent, and it’s time to get my money back. Accountant Lin, let’s talk about the logistics price increase reform.” (TN: “Drink Wine”, by Li Bai, a famous poet in Tang Dynasty)

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Tang Yun wore rich and brocade clothes, his head downcast. His mouth opened and closed again, embarrassed and unable to speak.

Seeing this, Madam Tang sighed: “How useless!” She ordered the maid Haitang to bring someone over. This was a boy of fourteen or fifteen years old, also wearing brocade clothes. But his behavior was timid and his expression was uneasy. From time to time, he cautiously glanced at Madam Tang from the corner of his eye. Just a look from Madam Tang and he was so frightened that he almost sat down on the ground.

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Madam Tang said: “Shen’er, this is the son of your uncle’s concubine and your second elder cousin.”

Then, Tang Shen finally understood why Tang Yun was so crazy for no reason three months ago and smashed up his courtyard.

Every family had their troubles. Madam Tang was a well-known virtuous lady in Gusu City. She was knowledgeable and courteous, Jiangnan’s famous beauty when she was young. Unfortunately, her family had declined. Although she was from a scholarly family, underneath the dazzling surface they had difficulty making ends meet. But Madam Tang was fortunate. After marrying into the Tang family, she gave birth to a son and a daughter for the Tang family. Her husband also managed to live up to expectations and passed the imperial examination to become a juren.

Madam Tang managed the household well, and the several shops belonging to the family were well maintained. However, she was only one person, and this time it was her family that caused the trouble. Tang Yun was secretly instigated by the concubine’s son and misunderstood Tang Shen, which led to Tang Yun’s angry attack on Tang Shen’s property three months ago.

Tang Shen knew that Tang juren had a son from a concubine who was the same age as himself. He looked simple and honest, and was even a little plumpee than him, but no one could have imagined that he would be the one causing trouble behind the scenes.

This concubine’s son must have been taught a lesson by Madam Tang before he came here. He shrank into himself and did not dare to speak.

Madam Tang spoke again and Tang Yun finally gritted his teeth and apologized to Tang Shen: “I was ignorant and was provoked by others, so I misunderstood you. Tang… Cousin, we are originally blood related, could you forgive me.”

Tang Shen smiled and said, “I forgave you three months ago. Eldest Aunt had already sent someone to compensate me for the things you broke.”

Tang Shen acted generously, but Tang Yun felt bad.

He never expected that Tang Shen’s lame idea would actually make the Tang Family Zhenbao Pavilion a lot of money. During this period, Tang Shen also started a strange logistics business. No one was optimistic about this thing at first, even Madam Tang felt unsure, so she just suggested Tang Shen to give it a try, as they wouldn’t lose much money after all. Unexpectedly, this logistics thing was actually a success!

Everyone Tang juren was surprised. During mealtime, he once said: “That half brother of mine has a dumb head. He only knows how to study and doesn’t know how to change and adapt. I wonder how he gave birth to a son who is completely different from him.”

Tang Shen came up with the idea of soap, and Tang Yun knew clearly how much money the Tang family made; Tang Shen started a logistics business, and maybe he didn’t make much profit, but his name was very resounding in Gusu City, and even Madam Tang felt that this logistics business may have other potential, and the future was unpredictable.

What was even more amazing was that Tang Shen’s teacher was actually Liang Bowen!

Tang Yun took a serious look at his younger cousin for the first time. He looked quite handsome, but no matter how he looked at him, he could not tell that he was as amazing a person as his mother said.

Was this Tang Shen really that amazing?

Madam Tang said: “Shen’er, your elder cousin had been spoiled by me since he was a child. I will watch over him from now on and not let him do such stupid things again.”

Tang Shen: “Eldest Aunt’s words are too serious.”

Tang Yun didn’t live with him, so what did he care about Tang Yun? 

Madam Tang asked after Tang Shen’s county exam two days ago, and ordered the maid to hand over some food supplements: “That exam is too harmful to the body. Your elder cousin took the county exam and the prefecture exam last year, and he fell seriously ill after the exam.”

Aunt Yao accepted the food supplements.

Tang Huang said: “Since it was someone else who caused the trouble,” when he heard this, the concubine’s son trembled, and the little girl continued: “Then Eldest Aunt, Tang Yun… hai, the bet between elder cousin and my brother… Does it still count?”

Madam Tang was stunned, and then she remembered this matter.

Tang Yun was also stunned, a little unhappy: “Of course it counts. How could I, Tang Yun, be that kind of petty person who doesn’t mean what he says! But who said I will lose? The county exam results haven’t come out yet, how do you know Tang Shen will definitely be able to pass? If you want me to call him big brother, he must first pass the exam and become a tongsheng!”

Madam Tang sighed and took her simple-minded son home.

After they left, Tang Shen looked at his sister and saw Tang Huang hug his arm with a smile and said: “Brother, aren’t I very smart. Look at that Tang Yun, he doesn’t even act like he is here to apologize. He is clearly unwillingly pushed over by Eldest Aunt! I want to see what he looks like when he calls you big brother three days later!”

Tang Shen: “So you deliberately provoked him?”

Tang Huang let go of his arm: “I didn’t.”

“You little girl, you’re quite the schemer.”

Tang Huang ran away quickly: “I’m not, Tang Shen is talking nonsense!”

Tang Shen laughed.

Although she had a tough attitude, in fact, the one who was most worried in the entire Tang family was Tang Huang.

There were three exams for the tongshi, and results would be released seven days after each exam. Every morning, Tang Huang would get up early and go to the temple with Aunt Yao. The little girl knelt on the mat and kept chanting, “Bless my brother to pass the exam.” The day before the results were released, even Tang Shen became nervous.

Accountant Lin: “Little boss would be afraid too? I remember when I was waiting for the results to be released every year, I was so nervous that I couldn’t sleep or even close my eyes. But the little boss is not like me. You are very smart and you will definitely pass the county exam.”

Tang Shen: “You don’t understand.”

Accountant Lin: “Don’t understand?”

Tang Shen let out a long sigh.

Not only was he worried about whether he would pass the exam, he was also worried that he would not be among the top ten!

The day for the results came, and early in the morning, Tang Huang dragged Tang Shen to the gate of the school. It was still dark, but many people had already gathered in front of Ziyang Academy. There were young adolescents like Tang Shen, and there were also octogenarians with gray hair. All the scholars stretched their necks and looked nervously and expectantly at the gate of the academy.

As soon as mao shi (5-7 am (in the system of two-hour subdivisions used in former times) arrived, the door of the government school slowly opened, and two government workers and an academician official walked out. The government workers walked through the crowd holding the red list, and the two of them posted the red list on the wall together. A large red paper scroll unfolded in front of everyone, rapid breathing could be heard, and cries of joy and pain came one after another.

Tang Huang grabbed Yao San’s arm and was so anxious that she forgot to breathe.

Tang Shen was not much better than her. He craned his neck and carefully looked from the last place to the eleventh place.

“I don’t see my name!”

Tang Shen was immediately relieved, and then became a little worried again. He looked up the list again, and when he saw his name, he froze in place.

Tang Huang turned to look at him in astonishment: “Brother?!”

Yao San: “Little boss?!”

Tang Shen looked at the first name on the red list in dumbfoundment and asked, “Am I Tang Shen from Gusu City?”

At the same time, a servant boy quickly ran to the west of Gusu City and knocked anxiously on the door. Tang Yun was sleeping when he was awakened by the banging on the door. He said angrily: “Come in!” The servant boy ran in stumbling, because he ran in a hurry and was panting, unable to say a word.

“Young Master, Young Master…”

Tang Yun said impatiently: “If you have anything to say, just say it. If you disturbed my sweet dreams for no reason, you will not be allowed to eat today.”

The servant boy cried out in his heart and finally came to his senses: “Young Master, then Tang Shen is on the list!”

Tang Yun was startled. After a while, he murmured to himself: “He was so confident, it is natural that he would definitely pass. The county exam is not difficult. Just like my mother said, I fell into his trap. If he wins, I have to call him big brother. But if he doesn’t win, I won’t get anything. Forget it, after all, it was me who was wrong, and I was provoked. My mother is right, one learns from every experience, and I, Tang Yun, am not a sore loser, it doesn’t matter if I call him big brother!”

The servant boy said again: “Young Master, he is not only on the list, he is at the top of the list, the an shou!”

Tang Yun raised his head suddenly, thinking he heard wrongly: “What did you say?”

“Tang Shen from Gusu City is the an shou in this year’s county exam!”

Tang Yun: “…”

Go to hell Tang Shen! ! !

Towards Tang Shen passing the county exam, Tang Yun could still be calm and admit his mistake. But Tang Shen was actually the an shou, and Tang Yun felt awful all over. After wallowing in pain d r a day, he came to Tang Shen’s house obediently.

Tang Yun said awkwardly: “I, Tang Yun, keep my word. Tang Shen, I call you big brother. I was wrong before.”

Tang Shen: “Did you call me big brother?”

Tang Yun: “…”

“Big brother!”

Tang Shen smiled: “Young Master Tang, please walk slowly.”

Tang Yun was so ashamed and angry that he ran home crying.

As the sun set, Tang Shen came to Liang Manor after sending off classmates and friends who came to congratulate him. As soon as he came to the door, the steward said: “Congratulations Tang an shou.”

After entering the study, Liang Song glanced at him and said, “Tang an shou has arrived?”

Tang Shen was originally very gleeful. He got first place in the exam, who would not be full of glee. But when he saw Liang Song’s expression and heard his tone, Tang Shen suddenly felt something was wrong. He walked over obediently and said, “Sir, I just came in and didn’t say a word. I just came to tell you the good news. I passed the county examination and I can now be regarded as having made some achievements.”

Liang Song put a piece of paper on the desk and said, “’I don’t believe it’?”

Tang Shen was stunned, and soon he remembered: “Sir, you read the essay I wrote?”

“Did I read it, come and see for yourself.”

Only then did Tang Shen realize that the pieces of paper on Liang Song’s desk were the copies of his two eight-legged essays and one test poem.

“Sir, I got two first ranks and one second rank. I got first rank in both essays.”

“In ‘the marriage of Wu’, your writing is quite conservative. Among the students taking the county examination in Gusu City and Wu County, no one had written well enough to be eye-catching. It is normal to give you this first rank.” Liang Song said, “And this first essay ‘when a nation or clan is about to flourish, there are sure to be happy omens’… Hmmph, Tang Shen, do you know what mistake you made!”

Tang Shen was confused. He was clearly here to announce the good news to his teacher, but he actually scolded him? He even got first place in the exam!

“This student doesn’t know.”

“When a nation or clan is about to flourish, there are sure to be happy omens. This sentence comes from “The Doctrine of the Mean”. “The Doctrine of the Mean” was written by Confucius, but now you actually say, ‘I don’t believe it’?”

Tang Shen suddenly understood. Liang Song was calling out on the arrogance of uttering “I don’t believe it” to “The Doctrine of the Mean”.

Tang Shen explained: “Sir, I don’t mean that I really don’t believe it. Please read on. I have demonstrated the relationship between auspicious signs and the rise and fall of a country. I have demonstrated why I sometimes believe it and why sometimes I don’t believe it.”

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Liang Song: “Yes, you wrote it, but so what? For this county examination, the examiner is Jia Liangsheng, the magistrate of Wu County. He is a young scholar, and he gave you a first-rank rating. He has been strongly recommending you in academic and political circles these days, saying this essay is a stunning work. However, this is because he is young, quick in thought, and eclectic. If he were a pedantic county magistrate, after just seeing this “I don’t believe it” he won’t even finish reading the rest of it, and you would be punished for disrespecting the sage’s words. Not only won’t you not pass the county examination, you could even forget about taking the imperial examination from now on!”

These words were nothing short of thunder, and Tang Shen was stunned.

There was a long silence in the study.

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